Neuqua Valley claims state championship
PEORIA - Neuqua Valley had been hovering around the top of the boys cross country ranking all season.
But much of the buzz before the IHSA class 3A state race had centered around upstart and top-ranked Loyola.
That changed on Saturday as senior Aaron Beattie did his usual damage and the rest of the Neuqua Valley pack stepped up big in securing Wildcats its second state title in three years on a brilliant fall afternoon at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Neuqua Valley placed five runners in the top 35 to snare the title, with Loyola taking second with 111 points followed by York with 118 points.
Prospect (181 points) took fourth with Lyons (234 points) taking fifth to round out the top five.
Speaking of damage, Sandburg sophomore sensation Lukas Verzbicas did plenty in securing the Class 3A individual title in 14:07.
Beattie set the tone for Neuqua Valley taking fourth in 14:31.
"It means so much," added Beattie of the Wildcats' title. "To win two state titles in high school just says so much about our program and how far it has come. It's unbelievable."
While Beattie was doing his work, Senior David King (14:56) stepped up to notch 21st place for the Wildcats.
But it didn't stop with those two. Senior Carlton Folster (15:05), senior Luke Verbus (15:08), and senior Billy Klimczak (15:10) bunched together taking 29th, 33rd, 35th place to nail down the victory for the senior laden team.
"We trusted one another and we ran as a pack," said Neuqua Valley coach Paul Vandersteen of the team's race. "We truly ran as a team, we were all together."
The five senior showed their experience on the pressure filled stage for the Wildcats.
"No doubt those guys knew what to do," added Vandersteen, "They're smart, they're confident. I think that comes from being a little older."
Loyola and York could not counter Neuqua Valley's pack which keyed the race.
"It's been like that all year," said Beattie of the Wildcats' pack. "It's just been an unflappable pack. A pack that would not give up and fight for every place that last mile. It was tight but we executed."
Senior Andrew Smith (14:28) and junior Jack Driggs (14:28) kept York close by going 2-3.
Sangha Kushpal (15:02) and Ron Hedman (15:10) aided the Dukes by taking 26th and 38th place.
Senior Tyler Jermann (14:51) secured 13th place leading Naperville North (289 points) to seventh place. Senior Bob Guthrie (15:10) aided the Huskies with a 34th place finish.
Senior James Waterman (14:54) took 17th place pushing Wheaton North (351 points) to 11th place.
Wheaton Warrenville South (435 points) took 21st place.
Individually Downers Grove North junior Ben Silver (14:56) secured 18th place.